Captain George W. Stump of company B was one ot the most active mambers of the 18th Virginia Cavalry. At the organization of company B he had provided at his own expense the horses and much of the equipment for his troop. His command nicknamed him "Stump's Battery" because he always carried several revolvers and a carbine. He had been active during the war in raiding Union outposts. In addition, he and his company joined McNeill's Rangers on several occasions in attacks on the Union forces in northwestern Virginia. A severe neck wound he had received at the engagement at Forrestville on September 24 had necessitated a lengthy recovery. He was cared for in Rockingham County until the presence of Union cavalry in the area forced him to seek safety in western Virginia.

Captain Stump rejoined his command early in 1865, but was still suffering greatly from his wound. Early in the morning of February 5, he stopped to visit his father who was living near Romney in Hampshire County. He had just reached the porch of the house when he heard unfamiliar voices coming from the other side of the house. The voices he heard belonged to members of a Union force led by Major Henry Young which had been dispatched on a mission to capture Major Harry Gilmor at Moorefield. Major Young had left Winchester early in the morning of February 4, with 300 men of the 1st Connecticut Cavalry. When they reached Hampshire County they learned that Captain Stump was in the vicinity. They determined to capture him before continuing on in search of Major Gilmor. It was a portion of this Union force whose voices Captain Stump heard on that morning of February 5.

Stump realized he was in danger so he made his way back across the yard to where his horse was tied. As he was mounting his horse, the Union troops discovered his presence and fired on him, knocking his horse down. As the horse dropped, Stump fell onto the frozen ground. As he attempted to rise, one of the Federals shot him in the side. They then put him on a horse and rode off with him in tow. Now suffering with two serious wounds, he soon became too ill to ride. When this fact was relayed to Major Young his terse comment was: remake him sicker." He was shot several times and left dead in the road. His body was later removed by his brother Even the Union soldiers later remarked that they considered his killing to be murder, rather than an act of war.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT

In the middle on the night, Gilmor and his cousin, Hoffman, were rudely
awakened by armed scouts and escorted back to Winchester. Gilmor was
taken to Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor, where he was confined for the
remainder of the war. The Jessie Scouts had completed another successful
operation.

They eliminated another threat on the outbound leg of the trip to capture
Gilmor. Having located the home of Captain George Stump's father, the scouts
stopped and were able to capture Stump. He apparently resisted capture or
attempted to escape. There are three separate accounts of this episode in the
war, but regardless of the account, the results were the same. George Stump
was shot dead. This must have occurred on the ride to capture Gilmor, as
Gilmor makes no mention of the killing of Stump. Another captive of the Jessie
Scouts, George Opie, described Stump's body, blackened and frozen beside
the road, as he was taken into captivity.

Stump was a serious secessionist who had sworn that he would never be taken
alive. While the actual story of his death remains unknown, it is likely that he
challenged the Jessie Scouts to a duel and lost. He was normally so heavily
armed that his own men referred to him as "Stump's Battery," but his weapons
didn't save him. There is a report that the Jessie Scouts told Major Young that
Stump was sick, too sick to ride and Young replied, "Make him sicker!"
Another report exists that Stump tried to take a pistol from a guard while they
were riding along and Young warned him that he would be shot if he made
another similar attempt. Stump made another try to snatch a pistol, this time the
one belonging to Young, who ordered his men, simply, "Plug him!" It is equally
likely that the pugnacious Stump challenged the scouts to a duel and died in it.

"This image may not be copied in any form without
express written consent from Tim Sullivan." You may
contact Tim at caycarsullivan@aol.com

Captain George W. Stump's HomeRomney, W.VA.The small stone building to the right of the house is the fort used during the French and Indian wars.

This is the marker of Capt. George W. Stump.

A better view of the Fort.

I would like to thank Tim Sullivan for porviding the photos and
information on Capt. Stump

Below is a painting of the tree where Captain Stump was killed and a post from the gate was used to bash his head in. This painting was done by "Tim Sullivan's Aunt". Thanks to Tim Sullivan for sending me the painting and story of this "Murder in the Lane".